REPRESENTATIVE RUGBY

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXIX, Issue 4744, 10 September 1935, Page 5

REPRESENTATIVE RUGBY

TARANAKI BEAT KING COUNTRY. IN A FAST, OPEN GAME. The weather was perfect and the Taumarunui ground in good order when King Country led Taranaki on to the field on Saturday afternoon. There must have been well over 1000 spectators present, the stand being packed long before the game started. Taranaki proved too good for King Country and ran out the winners by 13 points to 8 (says the Taumarunui Press). Taranaki were certainly the better team on the day. They were some time getting into their stride, and at first their passing was very poor. However, later it improved and their backs did their best to make the game open. All through the game the visitors' backs made the mistake of running across field—their rushes seemed to have no penetration. It was the Taranaki forwards who really won the game. They hooked magnificently and their line-out work was better than King Country's. Kofoed was outstanding, both in the line-outs and loose, and was well backed up by Ruakere, Bocock and Smith. They paved the way for the backs to finish off the good work. It could be said of King Country that they were a little unlucky. They certainly should have had at least another 9 points. Howie threw away a try by endeavouring to run round behind the posts when all he had to do was to ground the ball. Then Sargeant could have given a clear run in if he had passed out, and there were also three penalties from easy position that should have gone over. The fact remains, however, that Taranaki were the better team. Simpson was very weak at half-back and far too slow at getting the ball away. Crossman and Bathgate were the two best backs, Crossman's try being a beauty. Bathgate was out of his usual position at second fiveeighths and was not so good as usual, while Crossman was, perhaps, the best back on the ground. The handling of the local backs was very poor, Sargeant, in particular, finding it hard to take his passes. Bradshaw, Trust, Gordon and Kawe were the pick of the forwards. Following were the teams— Taranaki. Richard; Pepperell, Young Ross; Grant, Dowdle; Boswell; Devereux, Whittaker, Smith, Ruakere, Kofoed, Bocock, Sampson, Kenny. King Country.—J. Barlow; Howie, Sargeant, R. Barlow; Bathgate, Crossman; Simpson; Turner, Bradshaw, Trust, Kawe, Pickrang, Nelson, Gordon, Wheeler. King Country crossed first. Gordon and Trust led a great forward rush to the black 25 line. Here a scrum went down and King Country hooked. Simpson passed out to Crossman, to Bathgate, to Sargeant, who was blocked. The centre swerved in-field and Crossman, coming up at a great pace, accepted a short pass and was over between the posts in a flash. Barlow converted. King Country 5, Taranaki 0. Taranaki replied soon after when at half-way Boswell whipped out a pass to Dowdle, on to Grant, to Young, who drew his man well and sent Ross away with only the fullback to pass. Barlow made a feeble tackle and Ross went on to score. He missed with the kick. King Country 5, Taranaki 3. The score remained at this point until after half-time. Then out came the ball to Boswell on to Dowdle, to Grant, to Collins, and finally to Pepperell. The wing cut in and bad tackling by the King Country backs almost led him over. Here Howie picked up the ball and kicked to Richards who potted a splendid field goal, giving Taranaki the lead. Taranaki 7, King Country 5. Later they added a further three points when Ruakere broke through a line-out and ran right to the fullback. He passed out to Ross who touched down near the corner. His kick was good but short. Taranaki 10, King Country 5. Back at half-way, Nelson and Bradshaw broke away and sent the ball out to R. Barlow, who was pushed out on the 25 line. Out came the ball to Bathgate, on to Sargeant, who dropped his pass, ,but Bathgate, coming round again, picked up and went over to score near the corner. He made a poor attempt with the kick. Taranaki 10, King Country 8. Taranaki went all out for a try. From a scrum Dowdle cut in well only to pass forward, when he had a sure try in view. Right on the King Country line, the ball came out to Dowdle again and again his pass was forward. However, Boswell tried the blind side from the next scrum and passed out to Dowdle. The fiveeighths sent it on to Pepperell, who finished off a good movement by scoring well out. Ross missed with the kick. Taranaki 13, King CounKing Country tried hard in the last few minutes to equalise. J. Barlow found the corner flag with a great kick and the greens pressed Taranaki hard. Bradshaw tried unsuccessfully for the post from a penalty in a handy position just as the bell went for time. Taranaki 13, King Country 8. Mr. J. D. Coogan was referee.

MANGAOTAKI WIN SEARANCKE SHIELD. The Mangaotaki juniors were successful in their challenge against Waitete last Saturday for the Searancke Shield. The game was a keenly contested one throughout, there being little to choose between the teams. A penalty shot placed between the posts by Buckley in the first half gave to Mangaotaki the only points secured during the game.

PUKEWEKA SHIELD.

HANGATIKI DEFEAT PIO PIO.

Hangatiki gained a surprise victory over Pio Pio by 16 points to 11, when the semi-final of the Pukeweka Shield was played at Rugby Park on Saturday last. Pio Pio ran up eight points before Hangatiki reg-

istered, Gilbert and Frerichs displaying initiative and penetrative power in the backs. But after that the Hangatiki forwards took command of the game, dribbling in great style, and keeping the play to their own game by keeping on the .ball and breaking too quickly for Pio Pio. Gault and the Davis's were doing splendid work supported by Swanberg, the first five-eighths. Both the top teams of the Banner Competition have been eliminated in Pukweeka Shield games, and Waitanguru and Hangatiki will contest the final. Speedy forward play followed the commencement of the game. A break by Mark for the corner made things dangerous for Hangatiki. The attack was relieved by Gault harrying upfield, but the Pio Pio backs opened up in a splendid movement and Gilbert went away, gained an open field, and crossed under the posts. E. Buckley converted. s—o. Keeping up the attack, Pio Pio again crossed, a kick into the hands of Mark giving him the chance to ; bullock a way over. A fine kick by Buckley just missed. B—o. Then it was the Blues who took up the attack. Kite missed a shot at goal, Te Kanawa nearly crossed down the line, and Armstrong snapped a shot at goal. It was the forwards who were doing the work, however, and it was the forwards who registered after one of the finest concerted dribbling rushes seen this season. Armstrong gained the try, and P. Nikora failed to convert.

For practically the whole of the,;: second half Hangatiki took held the 8 advantage. Playing with the wind ; their forwards, supported by the opportunist five-eighths, , Swanberg, were irresistible, breaking and dribbling in great style. A mark by • Nolan gave the Blues a chance, but his drop-kick was charged dowm A ' movement headed by Gault followed. He was caught,. but Swanberg dived on to the ball in the nick of , i time. With a fine kick P. Nikora ( converted. v

Further fast following through by Swanberg followed. The first time he grabbed at the ball over the line, but could not get full possession. Next time a well judged up and under kick came from the pack, and Swanberg took the ball from the air and dashed over. P. Nikora put the kick over, but it was disallowed through Smyth charging it and touching the ball. Hangatiki's last score was gained through Gault ploughing his way through the whole Pio Pio team. Only Gilbert went for him low, and got him, but Ted Davis was on hand to carry the ball across. P. Nikora converted. 16—8.

In the closing stages of the game Pio Pio, managing to get the ball away from the Blue forward attack, and out to the backs, began to assert themselves. N. Griffin -put a splendid penalty shot between the posts, but this was* the only impression made, the defence being good. 16—11.

The Hangatiki forwards were again attacking -when the final whistle blew to end a fine game.